Apparatus for counting sheets of paper



Nov. 10, 1959 F. A. RICHARDSON 2,912,242

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING SHEETS OF PAPER Filed Sept. 23, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 M 61% W M Nov. 10, 1959 F. A. RICHARDSON 2,912,242

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING SHEETS OF PAPER Filed Sept. 23, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 10, 1959 F. A. RICHARDSON 2,912,242

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING SHEETS OF PAPER Filed Sept. 25, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheeb a m v a/69 Nov. 10, 1959 F. A. RICHARDSON 2,912,242

APPARATUS FOR COUNTING SHEETS OF PAPER Filed Sept. 23, 1957 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 M: 191% AZZeV /ZZKWQW 6 A M 62%; va &

United States Patent 2,912,242 APPARATUS FOR COUNTINGSHEETS OF PAPER Frank Albert Richardson, Welwyn Garden City, England, assignor to The Dev La Rue Company Limited, a company of England Application September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,732

Claims priority, application Great Britain October 2, 1956 6. Claims. Cl. 271-27 This invention relates to apparatus forcounting sheets of paper, for example bank notes, and in particular it relates to operating mechanism for apparatus of the kind referred to in United States Patent, to Holmen No. 2,810,575, dated October22, 1957, and the co-pending application of Frank Albert Richardson, Serial No. 611,122, filed September21, 1956. v

The apparatus described in the Holmen Patent.2,810,- '575 comprises a' rotary disc or gripper having a number of suction heads mounted thereon on ,axes of rotation which are symmetrical with respect to the axis of the rotary disc, which suction heads .besides rotating on the axis of the-disc rotate individually in the oppositedirection on their own axes parallel to the axis of the disc and are caused to rest one at a time against a sheet close to one of its edges and by suction to draw the sheet along with it, the sheet being released after such a brief angular movement of the suction head that the sheet is practically only swung round the edge which is turned away from the .suctionhead without 'being moved in its plane, in. a fashion similar to the turning over of the pages of aibook.

' The suction heads vare arranged so that the distance between them is so small that when a sheet is released by a suction head the following head will prevent the sheet from swinging back to .its initial position. ',A pile or stack of sheets may be operated upon by the apparatus in association with means for counting each sheet which adheres to a suction head.

In a preferred construction the apparatus is mounted on a vertical axis. The source of suction is connected to a duct in thecentral spindleof the rotary disc of the apparatusandsuction is thence applied through a .horizontal duct in communication with the duct in the central v spindle to a point adjacentthe position where the sheets are supported forcounting so that suction can be applied to an external orifice in each suction head through ducts in the latter which are so arrangedrthat suction is applied towsaid external orifice for a controlled period of time. i

In the construction disclosed in co-pending application Serial No. 6,111,122 each suction head includes at least one cusp but preferably two cusps, one more accentuated than the other, each formed by a concavely curved face around the periphery of thehead, which face embraces the suctionorifice, the surfaceof the head adjacent the cusp or the accentuated cusp, and removed from the curvedface, acting ,on the sheets to, cause longitudinal bowing thereof so that, on continued rotation of the suction head, .thebowed portion of the sheet is drawn into the curved 'face of thehead by suction applied through the suctionorifice.

'7 One .object of this invention-is to provide means to ensure that theZapparatus will .not operate until a predetermined degree of suction has been obtained and to ensure that the, apparatus will .stopif .for any. reason; the suction should fall below said pre-determined degree.

According to the present invention in apparatus of the kind described, electrically-operated means are .provided for controlling the motive force supplied to'rotate the :rotary disc in such a manner as to prevent rotation of said 'disc in its operative direction until a preedetermined degree of suction obtains in the suction line.

The electrically operated means preferably comprises a circuit including a rotary disc motor, a suction pump motor, ,a starting switch and a suction operable electric switch, the arrangement being such that, when the starting switchis operated, a circuit is completed to energise the suction pump motor and, uponsuch predetermined degree of suction being obtained in the suction system, said suction operable switch is closed, thereby establishing a holding circuit for said pump motor, whereafter release of said starting switch completes a circuit to en ergise the rotary disc motor.

The said electric circuit may also include'an electromagnetically-operated valve adapted to close an opening in the suction line on completion of a circuit by depression of thesstarting switch, which electro magneticallyoperated valve remains energised on release of said switch by the part of the circuit which includes the suctionoperable switch and opens only in the event of the suction in thesystem falling below a predetermined value.

In a preferred construction of the apparatus, ,thesheets are held-in a stack on edge, on a horizontal surface, in a clamp between memberswhich are separable .against the action of a spring, so that the end of the stack of sheets abuts against a suction head when the latter is in in the correct position for operating upon'the stack. It is essential that the first sheet in a stack shall be counted by the apparatus and not merely pushed to the position occupied by countedsheets as a result of physical contact with a revolving suction head, and a further object of this invention is to ensure that the first sheet in each stack is counted by an arrangement which brings a' suction head against the stack of sheets before the counting begins'in conjunction with the arrangement which stops theapparatus if the degree of suction issnot maintained at a predetermined level.

.According to yet a further feature the electric circuit includessa ,switch operable, when a main switch is on, by movement of the clamping means for the sheets to reverse the rotary disc motor, so that a suction head comes to rest in such a position that, when astack of notesyis. inserted between the clamping means, a-suction orifice is in contact with the first sheet in the stack before:the starting switch is operated.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingfdrawings inwhich, v 1

Figure 1 depicts the wiring circuitincluding the various components required in the system,

.IFigure 2 is a diagrammatic representation ofsthe suetion system for the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the top of the counting apparatus with asuction head in position for countmember 3ris bored at 5 to connect the source of suction (not shown) with an axial bore 6 in the spindle 1, which bore extends to a point near thetop'of the'spindle to communicate with a transverse bore 7, which itself communicates with rotary suction heads as they are, in turn,

3 in the operative position for counting a sheet. Rotatably mounted about the spindle 1 on ballraces (not shown) separated by a bush 3 is a rotary disc 9 which includes a circumferential pulley groove. The bush and pulley are bored as at 10 and 11 respectively to establish communication between the bore '7 in the spindle l and each rotary suction head when in operative position for counting a sheet. The disc 9 is also provided with five bores, each of which receives a rotary suction spindle 12 (only one of which is shown in Figure 4) which spindle rotates in ball races (not shown) separated by a bush 13 fast with the pulley 9, each bush 13 and spindle 12 being bored at 14 and 15 respectively to establish connection between the source of suction and a central bore 16 in the suction spindle. This central bore communicates with a suction head 17 which is secured thereto by a grub screw 18, the suction head 17 itself being bored at 19 to communicate with the central bore 16, and also with a suction orifice 20, the sheet contacting face or surface of the suction head, adjacent the suction orifice 20, being concave or flattened to facilitate adhesion of a sheet thereto.

Each suction spindle 12 includes a cylinder 21 and a light piston 22 slidably mounted therein, which piston is under bias of a spring 23, to urge it towards the left, as shown in Figure 4. The piston rod 24 has a reduced end projection passing through a reduced section of the cylinder.

The said reduced end portion of the piston rod 24 is adapted, when the piston 22 is moved to the right, as will hereinafter be described, to force an electric contact member 25 into contact with a further contact 26 to complete an electric circuit, to operate an electro-magnetic counting device, which is not shown, and which is of known construction, but is represented on Figure 1 by the numeral 39.

Coupled to the suction organ spindle 12 by means of a key and locking screw 27 is a pinion 28, which meshes with the teeth 4 on the gear member 3.

The disc 9 is provided on the part of its circumference adjacent to the part which is adapted to accommodate a pulley belt with five evenly spaced recesses 29, one of which is shown in Figure 4, each being associated with a suction head and arranged in such a position that, on reversal of a motor for driving the rotary disc, an abutment, not shown but fixed to the casing of gear member 3, will engage in a recess and bring the suction head associated therewith to rest in such a position that its suction orifice is in position to contact with the first sheet in a stack mounted on the machine.

In the circuit shown in Figure 1 a 230250 volts A.C. main supply is connected to the circuit through a double pole main switch St). The circuit is wired as shown through an electro magnetic contractor 31 and includes a suction pump motor 32, a motor 33 for driving the rotary disc, a suction switch 34, two solenoids 35 and 35a and a spring start switch 36. The circuit for the rotary disc motor 33 includes a condenser 37 and a reverse switch 38. An electrically operated counter 39 is connected into the circuit by means of a plug and socket connection 40, the circuit for the counter including the contact points 25 and 26 and being taken from the main circiut through a rectifier and transformer unit 41 to convert the current to DC. and to reduce the voltage to 50 volts.

Referring to the suction system shown in Figure 2, the suction pump motor is again denoted by the numeral 32 and the line 42 to the apparatus includes a suction gauge 43, the switch 34 and a filter 44. An electromagnetic suction relief valve closure member 45 associated with the solenoids 35 and 35a is adapted to seal the end 46 of the suction line on energisation of the solenoid 35, by the passage of current through the appropriate part of the circuit. The solenoid 35a is adapted to keep the valve closure member 45 out of contact with the end 46 of the suction line when solenoid 35 is de-energised. The valve closure member 45 is fixed to an arm 60 which is pivoted at 61 and at its lower end is attached by means of a spring 62 to a projection on a base block 63. When energised solenoid 35 acts against, and solenoid 35a acts with, the spring 62 to move the arm 60. The air exhaust from the suction pump is indicated by the numeral 47.

Referring to Figures 3 and 5, a stack 59 of sheets to be counted is held between plates 48 and 49 connected to clamping members 50 and 51 respectively. The plate 48 is provided with a hand grip 52 and a horizontal stacksupporting base plate 53. The clamping members 50 and 51 are connected to a rod 54 which is fixed to the base plate of the apparatus in such a manner that the clamping members are capable of undergoing opposite swivelling motions on the rod. The clamping members it} and 51 have associated therewith extension arms 50a and 51a to the ends of which are attached the two ends of a spring 55. A depending mushroom-headed pin 56 having a spring 64 associated therewith is attached to the extension arm 50a so that when the clamping members 56 and 51 are separated against the action of the spring by pulling the hand grip 52 of clamping member 50 to cause the latter to swivel on the rod 54, with the clamping member 51 unable to move in the same direction, the pin 56 is urged against and closes contacts in the disc motors reversing switch 38.

The method of operation of the apparatus will now be described. With the circuit connected to the main supply the main switch 30 is switched on. The efiect of this is, with the electro magnetic contactor 31 deenergised, that solenoid 35a becomes energised and attracts arm 60 so that valve closure member 45 is clear of the end 46 of the suction line.

The clamping plates 48 and 49 are then separated against the action of the spring 55 thus causing the pin 56 to close the contacts of the reverse switch for the rotary disc motor, with the result that the disc revolves in a clockwise direction, i.e. reversely to the predetermined direction of rotation during counting operations, until the recess 29 on the disc nearest to the fixed abutment (not shown) on the casing of gear member 3, in that direction of revolution, accepts said abutment so that the disc ceases to rotate; the engagement of the abutment in a recess ensures that a suction head occupies the operative position indicated by the suction head 57 in Figure 3. With the clamping plates still separated a stack of sheets 59 is placed between them on the top of the apparatus in such a manner that one end of the stack is adjacent the point through which suction is applied to a suction head. The start switch 36 is then temporarily operated, i.e. depressed thereby energising the electro-magnetic contactor 31, which completes the circuit for activating the pump motor 32, breaks the circuit to the solenoid 35a which is thus de-energised, and completes the circuit to the solenoid 35. The latter thus becomes energised with the result that the arm 60 is pulled against the action of spring 62 so that valve closure member 45 seals the end 46 of the suction line. The suction line is evacuated upon the first sheet in the pile becoming adhered to the suction orifice of the suction head 57 with the result that, when a vacuum of 18" Hg obtains in the system, the suction actuated switch 34 is operated to complete the part of the circuit which passes through it. On release of the start switch 36 and restoring it to non-operated position, the circuit to the rotary disc motor 33 is completed through the switch 34 and the rotary disc 9 commences to rotate in an anticlockwise direction, with the suction heads rotating in a clockwise direction. When the start switch 36 is released, the circuit to the electromagnetic contactor 31 and thus to the solenoid 35 is maintained through the switch 34 so that the opening 46 in the suction line remains closed. The cirguit for the counter is taken direct from the-main supply through the switch 30 to the transformer and rectifier unit 41, and the circuit for the pilot lamp 58 also is taken direct from the main supply through the switch 30.

When the rotary disc commences to rotate, with the first sheet attached to a suction head, the end of the sheet is bent over during the period that suction is maintained in the suction head and at the same time the light piston 22 is caused to move against the action of its spring 23 so that the reduced end of the piston rod 24 closes the electric circuit including the contacts 25 and 26 and thereby operates the counting device 39. As the suction head continues to rotate communication between the bores 15 and 16 and the bores 14, and 11 is lost. Furthermore, the'bores 14 and 11 are no longer in communication with the bores 10. and 7 as the disc 9 continues to rotate. The effect is that the piston 22 is returned to its normal position by the spring 23 and the sheet is released from the suction orifice 20. When the sheet is released from the suction head it is prevented from returning to its original position by the adjacent suction head which by this time has reached a position for taking the next sheet from the stack. The suction ducts within the rotary disc are so arranged that the suction heads are not in communication with the source of suction until they are in a position to take a sheet from the stack, thus ensuring that the vacuum does not fall below 18" Hg at and above which value the circuits for the rotary disc motor and the solenoid 35 are completed through the suction-operable switch.

The apparatus continues to operate until all the sheets have been counted, each sheet in turn being taken by a suction head, bent over and then released so that it strikes against the next approaching suction head and cannot revert to its original position. When each sheet in turn seals a suction orifice 20 the degree of suction in the system is such that the reduced end portion of the piston rod 24 in the suction head is caused to move to the right against the action of the spring 23, thus causing the contacts 25 and 26 to make and thus to operate the counting device39 and cause the latter to register one unit.

In the event of a sheet not being counted, on account of its being of such a nature that it does not seal completely the suction orifice of a suction head, the degree of vacuum falls to below 18" Hg with the result that the contacts in the suction-operable switch are broken. This break of circuit causes de-energisation of the contactor 31 which" in turn causes de-energisation of the solenoid 35 and the suction line becomes open at 46. The circuit to solenoid 35a is made again, and the latter is re-energised to attract and hold the arm 60. The contactor 31 also switches off the motors 32 and 33 wit the result that the machine stops.

In order to facilitate separation of the foremost sheet from a stack by means of a suction head, the air exhaust 47 from the suction pump 32 may be led to such to be separated as they pass over the serrations. The serrated bar may be provided, at its end where the foremost sheet in a stack is supported, with an extension in the form of a strip of spring metal with an upturned edge, which serves the same purpose as the serrations on the bar but in a rather more animated manner, the passage of the sheets over the spring metal strip producing the same effect as would be produced by a persons thumbnail ill] 6 or finger nail being passed over the edges of a firmly held stack of sheets.

In an alternative construction the light piston 22 may be dispensed with and a rigid spigot may be fixed to the suction spindle in place of the reduced end projection of the piston rod 24. In such a case as this the counting mechanism is operated mechanically each time the spindle 12 passes the electrical contacts and it is necessary therefore to ensure that the counting mechanism is operated only when the apparatus is actually counting notes. This is done by connecting the circuit to the counter 39 through the vacuum switch 34 whereby the counting mechanism cannot be operated unless and until the predetermined degree of suction, i.e. 18" Hg obtains in the apparatus.

What is claimed is: v

1. In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack,

a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet coutacting faces provided with orifices; suction line means affording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating said pump; a suctionactivated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to non-operated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; and means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor. 2. In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack, a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet contacting faces provided with orifices; suction line means afiording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating'said pump; a suction actuated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to non-operated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor; an electrically operable suction relief valve in said suction line means; and control means responsive to said temporary operation of said starting switch for closing said relief valve and being controlled by said suction actuated switch after restoring of said starting switch to nonoperated position for maintaining said relief valve closed as long as said predetermined suction is maintained in said suction line means, said control means being responsive to falling of the suction in said suction line means below said predetermined suction for opening said relief valve.

3. In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack, a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet contacting faces provided with orifices; two clamp members adapted to receive a stack of sheets on edge and hold the sheets in position to be engaged successively by said suction heads during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; spring means for drawing said clamp members towards each other to clamp said stack of sheets; suction line means affording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating said pump; a suction actuated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to nonoperated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; and means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor.

4. In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack, a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet contacting faces provided with orifices; two clamp members adapted to receive a stack of sheets on edge and hold the sheets in position to be engaged successively by said suction heads during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; spring means for drawing said clamp members towards each other to clamp said stack of sheets; suction line means affording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating said pump; a suction actuated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to non-operated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor; an electrically operable suction relief valve in said suction line means; and control means responsive to said temporary operation of said starting switch for closing said relief valve and being controlled by said suction actuated switch after restoring of said starting switch to non-operated position for maintaining said relief valve closed as long as said predetermined suction is maintained in said suction line means, said control means being responsive to falling of the suction in said suction line means below said predetermined suction for opening said relief valve.

5. In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack, a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet contacting faces provided with orifices; two clamp members adapted to receive a stack of sheets on edge and hold the sheets in position to be engaged successively by said suction heads during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; spring means for drawing said clamp members towards each other to clamp said stack of sheets; suction line means affording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating said pump; a suction actuated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to non-operated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor; a reversing switch operable for effecting reverse driving of said disc by said motor; and means operable by separation of said clamp members against the urge of said spring means for actuating said reversing switch thereby to effect reverse driving of said disc to a position in which the sheet contacting face of one of said suction heads is in contact with the first sheet in the stack and the suction orifice in said one of said suction heads is covered by said first sheet.

6; In apparatus for counting sheets arranged in a stack, a disc; means mounting said disc for rotation; an electric motor for rotating said disc in a predetermined direction; an electrically operated suction pump; a plurality of suction heads mounted on said disc and having sheet contacting faces provided with orifices; two clamp members adapted to receive a stack of sheets on edge and hold the sheets in position to be engaged successively by said suction heads during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; spring means for drawing said clamp members towards each other to clamp said stack of sheets; suction line means affording communication between said orifices and said suction pump whereby the suction at said orifices will cause successive sheets to adhere to said faces to be drawn separately from said stack during rotation of said disc in said predetermined direction; a starting switch in circuit with said electrically operable suction pump operable temporarily for activating said pump; a suction actuated switch responsive to establishing of a predetermined suction in said suction line means for establishing a holding circuit to maintain said suction pump in operation when said starting switch is restored to nonoperated position after establishing of said predetermined suction; means responsive to the restoring of said starting switch to its non-operated position for energizing said motor; an electrically operable suction relief valve in said suction line means; control means responsive to said temporary operation of said starting switch for closing said relief valve and being controlled by said suction actuated switch after restoring of said starting switch to non-operated position for maintaining said relief valve closed as long as said predetermined suction is maintained in said suction line means, said control means being responsive to falling of the suction in said suction line means below said predetermined suction for opening said relief valve; a reversing switch operable for effecting reverse driving of said disc by said motor; and means operable by separation of said clamp members against the urge of said spring means for actuating said reversing switch thereby to effect reverse driving of said disc to a position in which the sheet contacting face of one of said suction heads is in contact with the first sheet in the stack and the suction orifice in said one of said suction heads is covered by said first sheet.

Banthin Jan. 27, 1953 Holmen Oct. 22, 1957 

